By: Jag Dhatt
Working under the hood of your vehicle, whether passenger or commercial, is not fun in the first place. Add on the fact that the small OEM light provides little visibility, and the job becomes even more tedious. So many times, I’ve had to use a flashlight or find a way to hang a light so I can work on my vehicle. Still, most don’t work well as they can be bulky, have fixed lights, a single focus beam, or aren’t adjustable enough to make a big difference. Well, Philips may just have the right product for you with the Xperion 3000 under-bonnet light. And if you’re a trucker, then having the right tool for the job makes all the difference in the world.
Unboxing the Xperion 3000 was simple and there’s nothing fancy with the packaging. All information is on the box for easy access to what the light can provide. The Xperion 3000 came about 80% charged so it can be used right out of the box.
The Xperion 3000 is made of aluminum, nylon, and plastic, making it easy to handle and use. I am certain it will last a long time as well as it feels very sturdy in the hand. Also important is that
The light is powerful, providing 1200 lumens in Boost mode; if you don’t need the extreme light, then it still gives 300 lumens in Eco mode, which will be plenty for most jobs. In terms of total use time, the battery will last 3 hours in Boost mode and about 12 hours in Eco mode. This is more than enough for most jobs. Charging the Xperion 3000 is easy as it comes with a type C cable that plugs into a waterproof charging port. To fully charge takes about 4 hours.
In terms of practicality, I found the Xperion 3000 very useful. I’ve worked on my cars and when in the garage, better lighting – that is convenient – has always been an issue. I can say without hesitation that the Xperion 3000 made working on my car much better. I was able to hang the light under the hood and it lit up the engine compartment as if it were outside in the sunlight. Moreover, I was able to adjust not only the angle of light, but location with ease. The two hooks are convenient. While the built-in magnets are good, I do wish that they would have been slightly stronger to keep the light in some angles. Nonetheless, for where I had it placed, the magnets worked well.
One of the strongest selling points of the Xperion 3000 has to be its various angles. The two LED lamp arms can be rotated to be 180 degrees; match this with the 100-degree wide beam-angle and almost every part under the hood can be illuminated.
But it’s not just about using this light under the hood. When cleaning the inside of my vehicles, I do so in the garage as well. And once again, even with the sunshades and doors all open, there’s not enough light, especially when vacuuming under the seats. More than once, after I thought I was done, I noticed some areas weren’t clean until I pulled the car out of the garage. I tried to use flashlights and corded lamps, but they were more a hassle than help. The Xperion 3000 changed that as well. Even with using the Eco mode, the interior of the car is illuminated to do a thorough cleaning job.
While the Xperion 3000 Under-bonnet light would be practical even in automotive & truck repair shops, it is aimed more at the DIYers. When working on your heavy truck, automobile, or even boat, this is a fantastic light that will help get the job done. And for those who spend a lot of time on the road, the Xperion 3000 is great to keep in the car in case of emergencies.
For more information on the Xperion 3000 Under-bonnet light, or other products, visit www.philips.ca.
